N- lyons



Patented Sept. I3, i898. F. N. LYONS.

LIFE BOAT.

(Application filed Nov. 17, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

n-s Nonms Pains co,. PHOTO-uma.. WASHINGTON. D, c.

(N0 Model.)

No. s|o.547. Paienfed sept. I3, |898. F. N. nous.

LIFE BOAT.

(Application filed Nov. 17, 1897.) N 0 M 0 d e'l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Q//r `1 a.

UNITED STATES.

:PATENT OFFICE.

FRED NELSON LYONS, OF MENDOCINO CITY, CALIFORNIA.

LIFE-BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IlPatent No. 610,5

Y 7, dated september 13, 1898.

Application filed November 17, 1897. Serial No. 658,876. (No model.)

l sea fresh water may be obtainable when desired.

The invention will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then pointed out in the claims.

Figure l of the drawings is aplan view of my improved life-boat. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the same. Fig. 3 is a verf tical section of the boat on the line 3 3, Fig. 2.-

Fig. 4 is a perspective `View showing the saltwater reservoir and the condensing or fresh-` water chamber. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tank for alcohol or the like. Fig. 6 is a vertical section showing the cover for the air-inlet vent of the apparatus and the means for operating the cover. Fig. 7 is a crosssection of the same, taken on the line 7 7, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the vapor-conduit intermediate the salt-water reservoir and the condensing-chamber. Fig. 9 is a sectional detail illustrating the opening through which sediment in the reservoir may be removed, the cover therefor, and means for securing the same. g tion showing the lamp and the means for returning the lamp to its normal position after it has been moved for lighting. Fig. 11 is a plan of the same, showing the lamp in horizontal section. Fig. 12 is a view in elevation, showing the spring for governing the movement of the lamp. Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section of one of the seats for the boat. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one of the blocks for the false bottom of the boat, showing the same adapted for use in my improved boat.

Referring to the drawings, A represents my improved boat, the shell and general contour of which are of usual form. A partition 8 is secured at either end of the boat, forming a `liquid from the tank.

Fig. 10 is a detail seccompartment a at the bow and another compartment d at the stern. j

In the compartment d I secure a tank B, adapted to hold alcohol or the like, the tank being of such shape as to conform to the shape of the stern of the boat, the upper end of the tank being in communicationwith the deck of compartment a through a short pipe 9, which passes through a small opening inthe deck. Alongside of the tank-inlet I form another opening 10, serving as an air-inlet, both this opening and the tank-inlet being closed by a cover 11, operated by aV spring y12 and provided with a handle v13 for ease in operation. A conduit 14, leading from the bottom of the tank B, passes through the blocksl, supporting the false bottom or floor of the boat, and vextends into the forward compartment ct, this conduit being reduced at its forward end to somewhat retard the flow of Thejblocks '15 are formed with suitablerecesses 16 to permit the conduit to pass them and are also perforated, as at 17, to allowfree ,passage of air from the compartment' of forward. Near the lower end I secure a shelf 18, on which an ordinary lamp O is adapted to rest.v The interior of the lamp is in communication with the forward end of the conduit 14 through a exible tube or pipe19, this pipebeing considerably longer than necessary to reach the conduit 14 in order to permit the lamp to be drawn to the top of "compartment ct for lighting, as

hereinafter described. The lamp is 'secured normally in place by a cord V'20, which is wound upon a drum 21, revolubly mounted upon a shaft secured in the sides of the boat. A spring22 is coiled upon the drum, one end being secured to the post in the bow of the boat.` This spring is so Woundas to be loose when thelarnp is in its Vnormal position, but winds tightly upon the drum when the lamp is drawn upward, thus insuring the return of the lamp to its normal position after it has been lighted and released. A cord 23, eX- tending from the lamp to thewdeck of. compartment a, serves todraw the lamp'up for lighting, a short chain 24wloeingA preferably used between the end of the rope and the lamp to avoid danger by fire, as will be evident.`

IOG

Immediately above and in close proximity to the lamp is secured a reservoir D, ,it being preferably secured to blocks 25, so as to avoid contact with the sides of the compartment, the reservoir being double and packed between linings of asbestos or other non-conducting material Ato keep as little heat from escaping by radiation as possible. The reservoir is in communication with the deck of the compartment by a pipe 26, serving to ll the reservoir withsalt or sea water.

Above the reservoir D is secureda condensing or fresh-water chamber E, secured in such manner and being of such size that its sides will contact'with the sides of the boat. This chamber is in communication with the reservoir through a pipe 27, having a coil 27A adjacent each end, as shown, so as to prevent the mixing of the salt and fresh water in event of the boat upsetting in a heavy sea.A A pipe 28 leads from lthe condensing-chamber through partition 8 into convenient position for the occupants of the boat, a lsmall suction-pump or like device'beingattached to the end of the pipe.

The vdeck of compartment-oi is formed with an air-outlet opening 29, which together with an opening 30 formed convenient 'to the up-` per end of the cord 23 to permit raising and lowering of the lamp and with another opening 3l at the upper end of the pipe 26 are closed by spring-operated covers 32.

The seats v33 of the boat are formed hollow, with hinged lids, serving as receptacles vfor the storage of various/articles, such ascanned goods :or the like. y

Alcohol being poured into tank B it will feed through conduit 14: to lamp C, after which the lamp may be drawn upto the deck of the compartment and lighted. Salt water having been placed i-n reservoir D the lheat from the lamp will evaporate it, the vapor rising through pipe 27 into .thecondensing-chamber, wherein it is condensed both by the pressure of the vapor behind it Vand bythe cold from the water in which the boat is afloat, as the sides of the condensing-chamber are in contact with the sides of the boat. The water resulting from this condensation is, as is well known, perfectly fresh and may be drawn off for use as desired.

Both the reservoir D and condensing-chamber E are formed with openings 33, through which sediment may be removed, these openings being normally closed by rubber plugs 34, held in place by threaded rods 35, passing through arched strips 36, secured to the reservoir or chamber and adapted to receive a nut 37, all as clearly shown in Fig. 9.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the` United States, is-

l. A life-boat having a compartment near one end, a reservoir for saltwater within the compartment, a 'condensing-chamber above and in communication with the reservoir, and a lamp beneath the reservoir Ii'or vaporizing the water in the reservoir, said lamp being normally positioned beneath the reservoir and adapted to be drawn up to the deck of the compartment, substantially as shown and described.

2. A life-boat having a compartment near one end, a reservoir and a condensing-chamber within the compartment, a` lamp beneath the reservoir, said lamp being adapted to be drawn upward to the upper end of the compartment to be lighted, and means for automatically returning the lamp to its proper position after being lighted, substantially as shown and described.

3. Alife-boathavingacompartmentat each end., a reservoir, a condensing-chamber, and a lamp for heating the reservoir being located in one compartment, and a tank for alcohol or other suitable liquid located in the other compartment, said tank being in communication with the lamp through a suitable conduit, substantially as shown and described.

FRED NELSON LYONS.

Vituesses:

J. WM. MULLEN, A. BROWN. 

